A Play by Paul Mitchell

Directed by Therésa Borg

The Ballad of Dan O’Malley: A Football Tragedy is based on the true story of AFL club Melbourne’s 2009 ‘tanking saga’. Bright-eyed Dan O’Malley takes the reins as coach of the Central Leopards in 2008. But the club is bottoming out financially and on-field – so administrators call for shady tactics to win future draft picks. O’Malley wants to do the best by the club – and the young men he leads – so the club’s demands tear at his soul.

When the truth comes out – and the future of the game is threatened – there’s only one scapegoat in The League’s sights. The League can’t afford to lose its gambling revenue or broadcast deals, but it can afford to lose Dan O’Malley, a man whose love for football is eclipsed only by his passion for mentoring young men. The Ballad of Dan O’Malley shows the damage done to the things we love when greed and power take over. It measures the cost of putting the heart of football in the hands of people who are willing to kick to the kerb anyone or anything but the mighty dollar. And, finally, it asks whether the pressure put upon Dan led to the tragedy of his untimely death.